Speeding car claims life at Tshififi

By Silas Nduvheni

The police in Thohoyandou are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a man was run over by a speeding car on Tshififi’s main road on Saturday, 28 January.

Acting spokesperson for the Vhembe SAPS Sgt Vuledzani Dathi said the police were notified that someone had been run over by a speeding vehicle on Tshififi’s main road at around 14:15. “On arrival, the police members found a male person lying in the road. He was taken to the nearby Tshififi clinic, where he was certified dead shortly after arrival. The body was then transported to the government mortuary for an autopsy and further police investigation,” Dathi said. The deceased was identified as Nthatheni Saul Mukovhi (45) of Tshififi-Masakadza village, outside Thohoyandou. The family spokesperson, Aaron Mukhovhi, said the family members were left in a state of deep mourning after this unexpected death. He said that Mukhovhi had been a self-employed electrician who had worked hard to support his family.

Mukhovhi will be buried at Tshififi village’s graveyard on Thursday, 2 February, with the funeral service to start at 6:00.

According to the police, Nelukau assaulted two people on 19 January and was arrested the next day. One of the victims is Bono Lovers Mudau. The other one was not named.

The acting police spokesperson in the Vhembe region, Sergeant Vuledzani Dathi, said the victim had been on his way home from visiting a friend in Tshakhuma on the day the assault occurred, when a bakkie had stopped next to him and an altercation had occurred.

Sgt Dathi said that the complainant alleged that Lucky Nelukau, who had been a passenger in the bakkie, had jumped out of the vehicle and produced a firearm, which he had pointed at Mudau. The driver of the bakkie, whom Mudau did not recognise, was wearing a soldier’s uniform.

The driver allegedly also got out of the vehicle and pointed a firearm at Mudau, threatening to shoot him.

According to the police report, Mudau was assaulted before he was forcibly taken to Nelukau’s house. He alleges that he was further assaulted with a golf stick and tied up with ropes. He was allegedly only rescued when Nelukua’s brother arrived and intervened. Mudau then escaped and ran away.

“The victim was [later] taken to Tshilidzini Hospital by an ambulance as he was badly injured,” said Sgt Dathi.

Angry mob kills Zimbabwean man

By Silas Nduvheni

The body of a Zimbabwean man was found at Tshififi-Tshitasini village, outside Thohoyandou, over the weekend. He is believed to have been killed by an angry mob after he was allegedly found stealing from and terrorising the people in their villages.

The incident took place on Friday, 27 January, at around 19:30. Acting spokesperson for the Vhembe police Sgt Vuledzani Dathi confirmed that the police in Thohoyandou are investigating a case of murder. He said the police had received reports about a male person who had been killed – possibly by a mob. They then proceeded to the scene of the crime, where they found the man’s body. He had multiple stab wounds over his body.

The deceased was identified as Tapiwa Ndlovu. His nephew, Musa Ushe, who is also a Zimbabwean national, confirmed his identity.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ndlovu and Ushe were staying at Ha-Ragwala and survived by doing piece jobs. Ndlovu was being accused of rape around the area before he was killed.

According to Dathi, no arrests have yet been made as the suspects remain unknown at this stage. Police investigations continue.

Mr Patrick Madzunye, the community leader of the rural communities of Budzhe, Tshififi and Ha-Ragwala, said he was worried about the high crime rate in his area. “We constantly hear about our communities having sleepless nights because of the high crime rate. They are being terrorised with burglaries, theft, rape and bag snatchings. We are tired of crime, and we want our communities to be regarded as peaceful places in the country,” he said.

Despite this frustration, Madzunye advised his communities not to take the law into their own hands, but rather to report crime-related incidents in their areas to the police as soon as they happened.

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